Bring Me Your Tired and Your Weary

"Ensign Goory. Slow to 1/4 impulse," Commander Devore said as the Leviathan cleared the Earth's moon. The Leviathan was returning from their brief encounter with the Loreans, but at a much slower pace. With the manoeuvre and the adaptation of the tractor beam something had gone awry in the slip stream drive. So Devore had brought the ship in at warp 4 the maximum speed of their back up engines. It had taken them almost 3 days to return whereas their 20 minute trip getting to the Larius Star System.

"Ensign Toran. Open a channel to Space Dock 3." Devore ordered.

"Channel open sir," Toran said.

"This is the Leviathan. We require extensive repairs. Request docking instructions."

[Leviathan. This is Space Dock 3. Come to a heading of 323 mark 03 and have engines amidship. We will tractor you in.]

"Understood. All hands this is the Captain. Prepare the ship for docking. Once we dock you will be on extended leave until repairs are complete. Commander Devore out."

The Leviathan slowly adjusted course to align herself with the docking station as the tractor beam took her in. From the control centre, the Leviathan was battle scarred. Phaser burn marks potted the hull, and small fires were still burning from the neck under the saucer section.

"Captain. I have a message coming in from Admiral Ross. It is marked for your eyes only," Toran said.

"Fine. I will take it in my ready room. Harris. Go ahead and finish docking procedures."

"Aye Sir," Harris said with a smile.

In his ready room, Devore opened the channel and the Admiral's face appeared on the screen. "Admiral?"

"Commander Devore. What happened? That ship looks like hell." "Sir, we had some problems, actually an entanglement with the Loreans. I lost a lot of fine people."

"I know Commander. I received your message yesterday. "

"I did all I could do. It wasn't necessarily my fault as Captain."

"Understood, but as commanding officer, you are responsible for ALL that happens and the crew. I would like to see your report on the incident in my office in one hour. Is that clear Commander?"

"Yes sir. One hour."

"Don't be late. Ross out."

Devore pressed his comm badge, "Harris dock her then get in here."

[Aye sir.]

*He is going to help me with this thing.*

The docking was completed and Harris quickly came into the ready room. As he came in, he heard the noises of the repair teams getting to work on the ship. "Captain. They say that it will take 72 hours for repairs."

"Okay that is fine. I want to go over the report with you that I must submit to Admiral Ross in less than an hour."

"Not a problem sir. Where do I need to begin?"

"From the top, Grant. From the top."